What do you get when you put together paper, glue, magazines, macaroni and pipe cleaner? Some amazing creations! At the end of the hour we had everything from beach scenes to tigers. Check out some of the artwork below.
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After being closed for a week, the Main Library (201 E. Park) is open again for business. Come check out our new look. We have new carpeting throughout the building and some slightly different furniture arrangements at our Circulation and Adult Reference desks. Thank you for your patience during our renovation. We hope you'll enjoy your new updated library.

The Main Olathe Library locatedÂ at 201 E. Park is having new carpet installed in May.Â This means that the library will be closed May 11-17.Â We are sorry for any inconvenience.Â
TheÂ Indian Creek Branch Library at 12990 S. Black Bob will remain open during this time.Â Please visit our branch location during this week for your library needs, and plan to visit the Main Library after May 17 to see our new, improved look!

Do you have a little sister or brother who is trying to learn English? The library has a new, fun and exciting program for them. Beginning in April of 2009 we will offer an English Language Learner Storytime for 3-6year olds and an adult. The storytimes will be held at the main library at 201 E. Park St. in downtown Olathe. They will be held every Tuesday at 2pm starting April 7th and ending April 28th. Your parents or an adult can call the library at 913-971-6874 to register.

The library has two cool new magazines for you to read. If you speak Spanish or are learning Spanish, then take a look at Iguana. In it, you'll stories, articles, crafts, poetry, and even recipes.Â
If you're a fan of American Girl, try Discovery Girls for girls ages 8 and up. Read about girls like you, check out the advice column, enter a writing contest, learn to decorate fabulous hair barrettes, and more.

Stop by the Main Olathe Library and check out the colorful display of artwork by children from the Olathe District Schools.Â There are drawings, paintings, prints, collages, ceramics, sculptures, and more.Â Could there be a future Picasso in the bunch?Â Come see for yourself, and support the arts in our schools.Â The work of these talented students will be on display until April 3.

Kansas Reads to Preschoolers is a state-wide reading initiative sponsored by the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Center for the Book.Â The goal is to read the same book to every preschooler in the state of Kansas during the week of November 16-22.Â This year's book is Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson.Â The Olathe Public Library is doing its part by reading this book at our library storytimes throughout theÂ week.Â We will also be going out toÂ read this book to children at nearly 40 area daycares and preschools.Â Â You may also stop by either Olathe library and make a get well card for Bear.Â This is our fourth year to participate in this fun and rewarding program for theÂ youngest children of our community and state.

Hello!Â My name is Miss Lisa and I love working in the Children's Department at the Indian Creek Public Library.Â The public library is an important institution in my life.Â For as long as I can remember, I have worked in and around libraries.Â I was a library aide at my junior high and high school.Â I worked in an academic library during and after college.Â After a few years at another job, I returned to my very favorite place---you guessed it---the library!Â I believe that librarians should make people feel comfortable and connect them with resources they need.
I was born in Kansas City, but because my father was in the military, we moved overseas when I was five.Â (I'm the one in front.)Â I attended Ludwigsburg Elementary, in Stuttgart, Germany.Â One of my earliest memories was getting the book, The Cat in the Hat, from the German Father Christmas!Â While I was in Europe, I had the opportunity to visit many different countries.Â When I came back to the United States, I still had the travel bug.Â When I was a senior in high school, I had the opportunity to visit Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Italy and Greece.
The books I really enjoyed as a child were historical novels by Lois Lenski.Â I was fascinated by her characters and their childhood experiences that were so different from my own.Â Strawberry Girl, Prairie School, Houseboat, andÂ Shoo-Fly Girl were probably my favorites.Â I also loved Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, and all of Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew Mysteries.
Two of my three children attend the University of Kansas, so when I'm not working at the library, I like to follow the Kansas Jayhawks Football and Basketball seasons.Â I also cheer for my youngest son, who plays football for the Saint James Thunder.Â In my spare time, I like to do volunteer work and sing at my church.
I love my job because it gives me the opportunity to meet and work with some very nice people.Â It also gives me the opportunity to promote an institution that I think is very important to our community---our public library.

Hi...My name is Miss Ruth (really, it's Ruth Suddreth, but I like Miss Ruth better) and I am a children's librarian.Â Even though I spend most of my time at the Main Olathe Public Library, you might also see me at the Indian Creek Branch Library when it's my turn to read stories or help with special programs.Â I also help choose picture books and non-fiction books for the Children's Department.Â That's one of my favorite things about my job because I get to see all the new books when they arrive at the library.
I haven't always worked in the Children's Department, though, because when I was just a new librarian, I had the opportunity to work in almost every other department throughout the whole library.Â What a great way to understand how all the parts of the Olathe Public Library fit together.
Before I became a librarian, I was a kindergarten teacher at Ridgeview Elementary School right here in Olathe.Â It's really fun to see some of my former students bring their children to the library, because I know as moms and dads, they understand how important it is to read, read, read!
Speaking of reading, some of my favorite books are Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming by Jez Alborough, What! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum, any Hank the Cowdog books by John Erickson, and any of the Eye Witness books.Â Maybe those books are some of your favorites, too.
When I'm not busy being a librarian, I like spending time outside in my flower garden, reading, and shopping for shoes.Â Mostly shopping for shoes!
So if you have any questions about what it's like to be a children's librarian or to work in a library, stop by the Children's Department and I'll be happy to visit with you.